Drone drops drugs into prison yard, inmate brawl ensues

Prisoners were strip searched to make sure they didn't get the drugs.

It's not quite the drone-delivery business model that Amazon is planning to offer.

But a drone carrying heroin, marijuana, and tobacco dropped its payload over a prison yard crowded with inmates, causing a brief melee before authorities stamped out the brawl with pepper spray, according to the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (ODRC).

Local media reported Tuesday that the July 29 melee at the Mansfield Correctional Institution began moments after a drone let loose with the goods. At least nine inmates began fighting over the package while other inmates rushed toward the brawl.

Other inmates on both north and south recreation began running in the general direction of the fight. The officers then used pepper spray to control the fight and ordered all inmates to get on the ground. The inmates complied and remained on the ground as other staff responded.

All inmates (approximately 75 on north recreation and 130 on south recreation) were removed from the recreation yards to the gyms, where they were strip searched, run through the cell sensor, and clinic checked. The nine fighters were placed in solitary confinement status. There were no injuries to any staff or inmates, according to a report from ODRC.

Upon reviewing the cameras, it was determined that a drone passed over the recreation yards immediately before the fight began. Further investigation revealed the drone dropped off a package intended for an inmate. The package was picked up on the north recreation yard, setting off a fight. The package was then thrown over the fence to the south recreation yard, according to ODRC.

None of the inmates are believed to have gotten away with the 65.4 grams of marijuana, 6.6 grams of heroin and 144.5 grams of tobacco.

David Kravets
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